platt



(No Modem vB.G.1 LMIT LEAD 0,3 GRAYON HOLDER.

yNo. 290,191.1.

Patented Dem 11 Lu. ll-

u. PETERS. Phmumm, www n. c.

UNrrEn u STATES BENJAMIN G. PLAfrr,Y oE BAYONNE,

' JEESEY-o1rY,

ASSIGNoE rrov JAMES M.

CLARK, oF NEW JERSEY. l

LEAD R oRAYoN HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.`290,191, dated December11, 1883.

` Application filed May 18, 1883. (No model.) l

To a/ZZ whom/.it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. PLATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lead and Crayon Holders,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lead or crayon holders in thatclass known as automatic and it consists in means whereby thewriting-core is propelled step by step from the sheath bylongitudinalpressure.

It further consists in the means employed to hold and release thewriting-core, whereby said core is prevented from drbpping out more thana predetermined distance.

To the accomplishment of the abovepurfA poses it consists in suitableplungers, springs, and ratchet-teeth, and the combination ofthe severalparts, all as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate like parts l on each figure, Figure 1 represents a longitudinalsection of my improved holder. Fig. 2 represents a portion of a similarsectional view enlarged. Fig. 3 represents a portion of the plunger,showing its relation to the lead-gripping tube and the spring-pawls forpropelling the writing-,core outwardly. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview taken on the line .fr fr, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detached sideelevation of the lead-gripping tube and its attached spring-paws. Fig. 6is a transverse section taken on the line y g/of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view on the line z z, Fig. 5. Fig. Sis a transversesection taken on the line-p p of Fig. 5.

A represents the outer sheath, provi ded with a nozzle, B, said nozzlebeing provided with the usual aperture, b, for passage of thewriting-core.

C represents a second or interior tube concentric with the sheathstationary therein, and extending from end to end thereof. Said tube Cis preferably provided on opposite sides with longitudinal slots c, andupon its internal surface with ratchet-teeth c', the 'object of whichconstruction will be hereinafter explained.

D represents a plunger,'consisting of atube having a longitudinal slot,d, extending from the bottom nearly itsjfull length. The upper end ofthis tube D passesthrough a washer,

d', affixed to the head or in the upper end of l the tube C, and saidlplunger D is normally held retracted by a spring, d2, coiled about theupper end of said plunger within `the cap ll inner surface of its'upperend and the washer d', as plainly shown in the drawings. e

'e represents a collar affixed upon the plunfger D below the washer cl',and limits the upper movement of said plunger.

e' represents a pin projecting outwardly from' the collar e, andentering an L-shaped opening, ci, (see enlarged det-ail, Fig. 1,) in theup- Thecap E is connected to the plunger D, the spring d2 beinginterposed between the per end of the tube C. The purpose of the ywriting-core, and for this purpose saidtube F is provided at the side ofits lower end with aslot or slit, f, which will permit said tube tospread open when the end of the writingcore is inserted, and then springback and firmly grasp said writing kcore. It will be entirely within thescope 'of my invention to provide the tube F with more than one slotf,to increase the spring of the end of the tube, as will be readilyunderstood. The short tube F'is'also slotted or split at its upper end,and preferably on opposite sides thereof, as shown at f2, Fig. 8, theobject of said slots or splits f2 being that when the said tube isinserted within the plunger D said split end will spring open againstthe inner side surface of said plunger D, and not move longitudinallywithin said tube, except when actuated by progression of the pawls g. Itwill be readily understood that by reason of the split springpressedupper end of the tube F it will be held in any desired position' withinthe tubular plunger D until subjected to longitudinal pressure. rlhetube F is connected by a pin, j", (that passes through the slot d in theside of the plunger D,) with a short sliding sleeve, G, Surrounding theplunger D.

IOO

2 realer g represents spring-pawls attached to said sliding sleeve G,the upper free ends of said pawls being inclined outwardly to engagewith the ratchet-teeth c' of the tube C.

rIhe sheath A is shown in the drawings. exteriorly as round; but it maybe oval, square, hexagonal, or polygonal, and be within the scope of myinvention.

The operation of my improved holder is as follows: A writing-core isfirst inserted through the aperture b of the nozzle B into the lower endof the short tube F. The plunger is now turned to bring the free end ofthe pawls g out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth c and into theslots c of the tube G. The lead is now pushed upward, carrying with itthe tube F and its attached sleeve G and spring-pawls g, until thewriting-core is entirely within the sheath A. The plunger is now rotatedabout a quarter-turn, bringing the springpawls into engagement with theteeth c. Pressure being applied to t-he spring-controlled cap on theupper end of the plunger Djvill operate to move said plunger forward,carrying the sleeve G and its attached pawls. Upon releasing pressurefrom the plunger, said plunger will be retracted through the sleeve G byreason of its spring and the engagement of the pawls g with the ratchetsc. It will be understood that this operation may be repeated, and thecore be ejected step by step, as required. It will be further understoodthat the rotary motion of the plunger is limited and controlled by thepin e within the opening c2, as hereinbefore described. It will beseenthat when the limiting-pin e is within the lateral arm of theL-shaped opening c2 the writingeore will be securely held in theposition in which it is grasped, whether wholly within the sheath A orpartially ejected therefrom, as the case may be; and this I consider anessential feature of my invention, overcoming serious defects in manyclasses of devices of this character. In practice, the point of thewriting core is subjected to considerable pressure, and has a tendencyto be broken or forced back within its case from between thegripping-point. The danger of slipping up vertically is entirelyovercome by my invention in consequence of the locking-pin e. When,however, by partial rotation, as set forth, said pin is brought withinthe vertical arm of the L-shaped opening, and pressure is applied to thecap E, the writing-core can be continuously fed out step by step untilit is entirely ejected from the sheath.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim is l. In anautomatic lead or crayon holder, the combination of the shea-th A,nozzle B, and stationary tube C, provided with ratchetteeth c upon itsinner side surfaces, with plunger D, provided with inner short tube, F,having upper and lower splits, f and f2, and means, substantially asdescribed,whereby the writing-core is propelled step by step apredetermined distance, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic lead or crayon holder, the combination of the sheathA, nozzle B, and tube C, provided with ratchet-teeth c and longitudinalslots c, with the plunger D, provided with longitudinal slot d, springdi, washer d', and collar e, having projecting pin e', that takes intorecesses c2 in the tube C,sub stantially as described.

8. In an automatic lead or crayon holder, the tube F, provided at topand bottom with short slots f2, and connected bya pin or pivot with thesleeve G, said sleeve provided on opposite sides with spring-pawls g, ineo1nbination with plunger D, provided with longitudinal slot d, tube C,provided with ratchetteeth c', sheath A, nozzle B, and cap E,substantially as described.

4. In an automatic lead or crayon holder, the combination of the sheathA,provided with nozzle B, and concentric tube C, having ratchet-teeth cand longitudinal slot c and aperture c2, with the plunger D, havinglongitudinal slot d and limiting-pin e, tube F, and sleeve G, providedwith spring-pawls g, whereby when the tube D is partially rotated saidpawls may be brought into engagement alternately with the ratchet c orslot c of the tube C, thereby admitting the writing-core to beintroduced into the sheath and ejected therefrom, substantially asdescribed.

BENJAMIN G. PLATT.

Witnesses:

LoUrs Z. KINsrLER, WM. I). WILLIAMs.

